Principal's Message
Dear parents, students and families
Last Thursday evening was our Christmas Concert. The staff and I received many positive comments on the performance and I certainly suspect it was one of the best since I have been here, possibly the best! Thanks to staff and students for their practise, parents for their support of costumes, Ben, Troy and anyone else from the parent community that helped on the BBQ, our ex students now in secondary school who helped, Mrs Trower's son and husband who helped sort out our sound and perhaps most importantly to Mrs McArthur, Mrs Lacey and Miss O'Donnell who oversaw the show.
On Monday our students had their second changeover session with their class teacher for 2023. This provided our students an opportunity to get to know both their teacher and their classmates for 2023 and the classes certainly looked pretty relaxed and happy to be together, as nervous as some may have been originally.
On Tuesday we had our End of Year Liturgy for all students. Though we had planned for a Mass sadly Father Martin was unwell and I thank Mrs Thomas for adapting our plan to have a Liturgy instead. It was wonderful for so many of our parents and families to attend. Our Leadership roles for 2023 were announced and what a fantastic group they looked:-
School Captains: Hazel and Ocean
Vice Captains: Chloe and Charlie
MacKillop House Captains: Sam and Zali
Francis House Captains: Jack T and Sia
Ignatius House Captains: Aaron and Ethan
Choir: Emily and Will
ICT: Blair and Sebastian M
Liturgy/ Social Justice: Aurora and Maddy
Sustainability: Sebastian A and Stefan
Marine Ambassadors: Jack K, Sienna, Sienna-Rae. Nina-Yasmina
Our Awards Ceremony was held yesterday. Congratulations to all who received a reward. It must certainly have been very hard for our staff to select as I have seen how hard all of our students have worked this year. I greatly enjoyed spending time with our students in their classes and outside.
Wednesday evening we held our Year 6 Graduation Ceremony. Year 6 students shared a meal with some of the staff and spent some time together before moving to the Church. Parents and families then joined the students and staff in our Church from 7pm for Mass.
Today our Year 6 students had their "Big Day Out" of celebration to formally conclude their schooling at St Anne's. We wish them all the very best with their exciting move to Secondary School. Thank you to the whole school for gathering outside the Hall to farewell our Year 6's at the end of today. Parents should be able to access reports today electronically. I am sure you will find successes in them to celebrate with your child/children.
Tomorrow is our last formal day of schooling for our Foundation - Year 5 students. They are not required to attend school on Monday 19th but if families wish, the students can attend school on Monday until 1.30pm. Tuesday 20th December will be a Teacher Only Day as we finish up 2022 and prepare for the 2023 school year.
A couple of notes regarding next year. In regards to the girls' uniform there has been a minor change with the girls to now wear navy blue socks with their uniform and white socks only with their sports uniform. I would also like to remind parents that our school uniform is black leather shoes unless there is a medical reason, in which case, with a written letter, students may wear fully black sports shoes. On sports days and other special days students may wear their preferred choice of sports shoe.
Since I have been at the school many dogs have walked to school with families. Unfortunately from 2023 dogs will not be alllowed on the school site due to a couple of injuries that have occured and what may potentially occur in the future. This brings us in line with the majority of other schools that I am in contact with. The only dog for 2023 onsite will be Mrs Winduss' Border Collie that is being fully trained as a companion dog.
Recently we held a Lapathon to raise funds for our local St Vinnie's to support needy families this Christmas. I can confirm we have raised approximately $2400.00 which is being passed on to the organisation today. Thank you so much for your support of those in need this Christmas in our Parish as we live out one of the lessons from the Gospel.
I wish everyone a joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year, wish those moving on from our school all the best for their future and look forward to seeing the majority of you back here on Monday January 30th when our Year 1-6 students commence. Our Foundation students commence formally on Thursday 2nd February but many will be in for some 'getting to know' you sessions with our Foundation teachers on the preceding 3 days.
God bless you all
Rod Shaw
Principal
School Attendance and Unexplained Absence
Please contact the school if your child is going to be absent by leaving a message on 9786 4736 and press 1. Please give details of your child’s name and class with areason for their absence such as: unwell, appointment, holiday or family reasons. Alternatively an email can be sent to office@saseaford.catholic.edu.au with cc to the child’s teacher.
If you are running late, (after 9:00 am) please attend the office to sign your child into school and collect a late pass.
If you are picking up your child early you will need to collect them and sign them out from the office.
As per our policy this will be our morning routine for absences:
Parents will be contacted as soon as practicable on the morning a student is absent via a text message.
If parent does not contact the school after receiving the text message, the school will contact the parent by phone. If the parent is unreachable the emergency contacts will be contacted by the school.
If there is still no response, and the school feels that the child is in danger, the police will be contacted.
Ongoing unexplained absences or lack of cooperation regarding student attendance will result in a formal conference being organized. Unresolved attendance issues will be referred to D.H.H.S.
This is a legal requirement.
Democratic Principles
The six (6) principles of Australian democracy include:
(a) elected government; and
(b) the rule of law; and
(c) equal rights for all before the law; and
(d) freedom of religion; and
(e) freedom of speech and association; and
(f) the values of openness and tolerance